How many miles can it endure?

Question

I have heard many different numbers, so hopefully someone can give me an accurate answer.

I have a water-cooled 2005 Honda Shadow Aero 750. It is not driven very hard and is maintained according to the manual. On average, about how many miles can be put on the bike before it breaks down or starts having a lot of problems?

Answer 1

I agree that there really isn't a definate answer. A well maintained motorcycle can last a long time but (just like a car) the older it gets the more frequently you'll have to make repairs but there shouldn't be a time when everything suddenly fails. Many motorcycle riders who have taken good care of their bikes have reached 60,000 miles without major problems - but they're probably in the minority. The good thing is most motorcycles tend to be a little less complicated than the inner working of modern cars so repairs are usually cheaper and easier. Overall, Honda is pretty reliable.

Answer 2

How long is a piece of string? Whatever the average actually is, it won't really help you as it's a bit like people dying. When you're born you will have a lifespan of maybe 70 years on average. However, once you get to 50 to would be expecting to have a lifespan of maybe 80 as you've already increased your chances by living this long. So, in the case of the motorcycle, if yours will break down on average every 20k miles, if you get to 19,999 you don't expect it to fail in the next mile. Depends on how you ride it, how you maintain it, the local environment and luck. You are doing your best to increase its reliability though.